All's Fair in Love and Liz Lisa

I know thats not exactly how the saying goes but if you think about it, buying Liz Lisa is in high demand and people will find any way to get what they want. This doesn't really apply to buying Liz Lisa straight from the source since it is essentially first come first serve, but soooo many people search secondhand sites constantly for cheap Liz Lisa (yes I am one of them)
I'm going to give you some basic tips on how to -ethically- and -tactfully- buy Liz Lisa. (If you haven't read my previous blog post, be sure to do that as I list some helpful decision making steps before making a purchase!)
Now lets begin!

Everyone has that favorite seller. The one that has the best prices and most unique pieces...and they just so happen to be half way across the world. Due to time differences they list all their items in the middle of the night and when you wake up everything is sold. Well guess what, there is a cheat code for that!
Some sellers that constantly post will have a 'secret' group of buyers who will be notified first of what they are about to list for sale. I am a part of many sellers' "secret sales" so I get to look over what they will be selling, before they post it. This is a great advantage because you will essentially see the sales before anyone else. Usually this works through Private message so if you want something, you pay though Paypal and the seller does not have to pay fees on a listing which equals a cheaper price for you. Win Win for both buyer and Seller!
Don't be afraid to send a simple "Hi are you selling any more LL items in the future?" and wait for their response. Usually it's a yes, and all you have to do is ask them politely if they would give you a sneak peak at their next listings. Simply end with "Let me know when you have more to sell" and usually they will contact you before listing their next items. Give them your email and be sure to add in the fact that you could pay through paypal and work around any listing fees. Ask for an Instagram account, that way you can become friends, and tag them in posts with their purchases.
I do this most of the time 1. to show my appreciation, and 2. to give them business and let others know they have some cute things for sale.

Another way to "cheat" the system and pretty much guarantee you the item later is by asking for a hold.
Some sellers are against holds, mainly because buyers will ask them to hold the item for a week, but later say they can't pay for the item. This is NOT a Win Win for you or the seller. If the seller was getting a lot of interest on that item, it is very possible that they could have sold it while you were still debating if you could "afford" it or not. If you are making a hold, you are generally agreeing to pay for it. Sticking to your word and actually paying in the end gives the seller more faith for future holds. <--- THAT is a Win Win. Sellers offer more holds, people can get the items they want without having to worry about someone buying it before their next pay check.

I usually will not ask for a hold unless:
A- I WILL buy the item (within 7 days) but I do not have the money at the moment
B- I am at school/busy and there is a lot of interest in the item (will pay within 12 hours) OR
C- The seller is posting more items later (within 7 days) and I am holding to possibly bundle with the future listings.

There you have it. Very rarely will a seller be generous enough to hold an item you are unsure of purchasing. I was fortunate enough to have a few sellers hold some items that I was debating on. I remember, I once sent a message like this: "I am very interested but I dont know if I want to pay that price...perhaps I should sleep on it and decide tomorrow" and the seller replied with "I could put it on hold for you just incase?"
YES, that kind of generousness does exist. The seller placed the hold on their own terms. They knew I may not purchase, but since it was only for a day or two, they figured it couldn't hurt their business too much. If you are debating on the purchase and are going to ask for a hold, don't lead them on to think that you are 100% for sure going to buy.
Also, if an item you want is currently on hold, it is ok to ask to be second in line. Remember, a lot of people will bail and holds usually have a strict deadline. I'd say theres about a 50/50 chance that the first buyer will bail!

Lastly, there is a very complexly simple way to winning an auction (I will be specifically talking about ebay) and it has a lot to do with patience! Theres a new listing for a piece you really want. You see that it has 2 bids already but the auction doesn't end for another 6 days, what do you do?
DO NOT BID. I repeat. DO NOT BID NOW.
You will only be antagonizing the other bidders to outbid you, and in the process, you will be raising the price. Sellers Love it. They sit there and grin as everyone bids amongst themselves, foolishly making it more expensive. Keep watch on the item, set an alarm ten minutes before the listing ends, and then you monitor the listing. You can't see the bidders names, but you can see their feedback rating. This will give you an idea of how experienced your competition is. You may think "oh they haven't bid since day one, they probably wont bid again" but if they have a triple digit number beside their na**me, you are most likely wrong. They will wait until the very end.
Just like you will.
Although ebay says "please enter your highest bid amount" dont do it. Even if theres a minute left on the clock. Get yourself ready, pull up the "one-click bid" menu, and please, please, refresh often. When it hits 10 seconds, THEN enter your highest bid.
If you automatically get the red message of sadness saying "you have been outbid" that means the current winning bidder had already entered their highest bid and your highest bid did not top that. You will probably have about 6 seconds left to decide if you want to go even higher. This is exactly why I say enter your highest around 10 seconds. You get a second chance. If you would have entered it at 3 seconds, you would not have had another chance to re-think your highest if it wasn't enough. If you want to bid again, do it asap! I tend to get nervous and jittery when it comes down to the last seconds if its something I really want.
This works for me about 90% of the time.

Tips for bids:
#1 Dont use the click buttons, type in your highest number. Only use the click button if someone has outbid you at *literally* the last second and you have no time to type in a number.
#2 enter in odd amounts. A lot of people use the buttons. Those are set increments and all it takes to win the auction is ONE CENT more than the other bidder. Typically one enters in numbers such as $40 or $45. I take this to the extreme and I will enter in a number such as $40.15. That way if someone bids $40, I still get the win because I added the extra (an unexpected) fifteen cents!
#3 Set alarms. I cannot tell you how many times I have missed an important auction because I had simply forgotten.

Other than haggling on prices which varies from buyer to buyer, that is all the advice I can give you as I am an ethical buyer. I have witnessed some crazy unethical ways people have tried to work their way around getting an item.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Story time:

Once, I had talked to a buyer about pricing on this beautiful sweater tunic. She said she could give the item to me for $10 less AND hold it for me until morning as it was the middle of the night. When I woke up in the morning, others had commented saying "I WILL BUY FOR FULL PRICE PMD" even though I had already negotiated with the seller through comments and it was VERY obvious to everyone that she was going to sell it to me. They had the nerve to pretty much tempt the seller to sell it to them because they could pay the full price. Well, guess what happened? The seller messages me saying "Im getting a lot of offers so I can't sell it to you for that price, Im sorry"
----_________-----
^That was my face.
I quickly replied with "I will pay full price if I have to"
I felt cheated. We had made a deal and she broke it because other people wanted it and even though they KNEW it was on hold for me, they pretty much PAID her to break our deal.
How about that for disrespectful? In the end, I paid the full price (even though it was only $10 more, I am a college student and that $10 was needed for food...Im pretty sure I ate McDonalds the next few days just to save money)
I don't regret buying it, I was just very grumpy that entire day since I had to wake up to all that nonsense.

Next one is a similar story only it is something I had witnessed and not been involved with. There was a very rare bag for sale on depop and it had sold out within the first few hours of listing. There was a comment saying "I know this is sold BUT I NEED THIS and I will pay/do anything to BUY this instead!"
Welp. As you can imagine, this caused some drama. I am not entirely sure what actually happened but I'm pretty sure the seller canceled the order and sold it to the very needy person who commented. The entire listing was deleted later that day due to the nasty comments that had started between two people who I presume were the original buyer and the needy buyer.

Lastly, I have witnessed many people who will accuse the seller of a misleading item and request money back. "This sweater had pen marks all over it when I received it" even though the seller has photo proof before shipping that the item did not have such marks. These types of buyers usually DO NOT win and this type of thing happens ALL the time.

Please, buy ethically and safely, as there are also sellers out there to cheat you.

I would LOVE to hear your stories too! If you would like to share them, please comment!

To Buy or Not to Buy: Secondhand Himekaji

If you're like me, your wallet makes most of the decisions when it comes to purchasing pieces for your wardrobe. There are many factors that help me decide whether or not to buy certain clothes. Here are 10 questions you can ask yourself to help you make purchases you wont regret:

1- How much money is in your wallet/bank?

2- If enough, how much SHOULD you spend?

3- Are there currently any other items for sale you would want more? 

4- How badly do you want it?

5- Is it a rare piece/ hard to find? 

6- What condition is it in? 

7- Can you see yourself wearing it often?

8- Does it match your wardrobe? 

9- Do you suspect its a replica?

10- Does the seller have positive feedback? 

Once youve asked yourself those questions, You should be able to safely make your decision, or as I like to think of it, you and your wallet have come to an agreement. Next I'll walk you through my thought process as it is a bit more in depth ~

I always check how much money I have before clicking buy, even if I checked earlier that day. Sometimes payments aren't processed until hours or even days later. Overdraw fees can be pretty rough, especially if you overdraw your account by a large amount. 

I always get really excited when I find out I have enough in my bank. I want to click buy so badly but I know I need to think rationally.  I do some intense math (and by intense I mean some adding and subtracting) in order to see how much I will have left once I pay the bills. I also take into consideration when I will be able to deposit more money into my bank. If I have enough to buy the item today, but not enough to pay the bills at the end of the month, I check to see if any more money will be deposited into my account before the bills are due. If there isn't going to be a deposit and I wont have enough to pay the bills in the end, I will not buy. 

However if I do, this is where it gets really hard to stop myself from impulsively speeding to checkout without thinking it through.

It happens to everyone, that moment when you come across a listing of something you've wanted for so long, but you cant buy it because you just bought something yesterday. 

I have a wish list of items that I am always searching for. Each month I try to save some "emergency" money (yes, finding something on my wish list is considered an emergency) just incase I do come across something I really want when Ive already spent my budget. 

On that same note, never forget to check around for different prices. Its very possible (and actually has happened to me multiple times) to find a better price even when you're sure youve already checked around. Get this! I saved about $30 just by checking around before I committed to buying! After purchasing a top that was part of a set, I looked everywhere for the matching skirt, only to find one for quite a lot of money. I was ready to suck it up and spend $58 on it when I opened up a different app to find that someone at that exact moment listed the same skirt for $25.

Im just going to simply give you a scale of 1-10. 

(1-5) I only buy items on this end of the scale if they're $15 (including shipping) or less.

It's rare to see prices this low but its so hard to say no, even if its something I think Ill only wear a handful of times. You never know, maybe you'll love it when you try it on? If you don't, just sell it.

(6-7) This is where I have a dilemma. Pieces in this range usually mean one of two things to me: 

A : I've seen someone else wear this piece and I think its absolutely adorable on them but it would probably look terrible on me

OR 

B: I want this really badly but its not in the color I want :( 

(8-9) At this point, it all comes down to price. If it's a really good price (around $45 and under, shipping included) and Im pretty positive Im going to wear it a lot then its a deal. Things that fall in this category are usually pieces I am searching for but are not willing to pay retail price for.

(10) Admit it, when you find that 10 piece you get that feeling where your heart starts pounding and you're so nervous because you're afraid someone else is going to buy it before you have a time to log into your Paypal account and hit "place your order."

After you've figured out where the item falls on the scale, its time to move on to the next question.

I usually have to ask this question when the price is a bit out of my range. I make exceptions for things I know Ill never find again. I don't want to wait too long to make my decision just to find it sold out.

I have never come across an item in poor condition. Minor snags or unnoticeable stains aren't a big deal to me. If theres a major flaw, the price will usually reflect that it is damaged. If its something I can easily repair myself, Ill go for it if the price is right. If its something hard to find but can be fixed by a professional for a low cost, I'll usually purchase it, keeping in mind the cost for repair.

Most of the time that question translates into, "is it too over the top for every day wear?"

Yes, I own items that are "over the top", but I plan on wearing them at conventions only or at photoshoots. These items I probably wouldn't pay too much for. 

*by over the top I mean too much lace, bows, or possibly even a very complex pattern/ wacky colors.

If its a staple piece, such as a blouse/ shoes, etc. and I can see myself wearing it with a lot of different pieces, my wallet usually gives me the go ahead.

I really REALLY need to take my own advice on this one. I have the tendency to skip over this step. every. single. time... When I open the package and hang it in my closet, I take a step back and realize.... I bought another floral patterned piece. 

Liz Lisa (and most himekaji brands) are know for their unique chic patterns. 

I just happen to have this eye for floral. With that being said I only own 3 plain blouses and a few plain sweaters. I'm sure you can see my dilemma here... nothing matches!

There is no way to know for sure that a piece is authentic. There are a few options to make sure you're getting what you pay for. Firstly, just ask the seller. No need to be shy, just politely ask where they bought it from. If photos of the name tag and wash tag aren't already included, ask for them. If the seller can't remember where they bought it from or bought it secondhand, but it has tags, Id say theres a 80% chance its authentic. If it looks like a replica, it probably is. 

Im one of those people who arent offended by replicas. If the seller is not 100% sure and It doesnt cost too much, I usually take the risk. I will be OK if it arrives and it is an obvious replica. What I am NOT OK with is when a seller sells something as authentic when it is clearly not. Or, when you message them about it, and they end up saying "Im not sure if its authentic or not" even though its listed as authentic.

Its superduper annoying when your are falsely sold a replica. I have only experienced this twice. 

*Ill make a post about my shopping experiences and tell the story there.

To me, this is the least important part of the decision making, therefore this is the last thing I think about before making the purchase. 

I will forever use paypal. If the seller ends up not shipping the item, you can open a dispute and get your money back if they have no proof of postage. 

With that said, rarely do you come across a bad seller and when you do its usually obvious by looking at their feedback unless they are a new seller. 

If you made it to the end of this post, I hope I have encouraged you to shop with your intentions in mind! 

Where to Buy Himekaji Online

Where do I purchase my himekaji items?

All of my himekaji items are bought secondhand. Of course, I take a lot of things into consideration but as a college student the easiest way to build my wardrobe is by buying from people who are looking to get rid of their no longer wanted pieces. I live in the US so buying directly from the source through a shopping service can be very pricey.

With that being said, there are a few options when buying himekaji. If you're looking to buy straight from the source, here are some official links.
*Please note that I have never actually bought from any of these sites, however all items they sell are authentic and straight from the source. You will also need a shopping service if you are purchasing from any of these besides Tokyo Otaku Mode's premium shops (links at the bottom of the list)

Liz Lisa:

http://www.tokyokawaiilife.jp/

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/lizlisa-shop/

http://e-shop.shibuya109.jp

Ank Rouge:

http://ailand-store.jp/ankrouge/

Swankiss:

http://swankiss.net/

Bobon21:

https://bobon21.world.taobao.com/

Candy Rain:

https://520vivian.world.taobao.com/

Tokyo Otaku Mode sells most of these brands, here is a direct link to their premium webshops

Liz Lisa : https://otakumode.com/shop/brand/lizlisa

Ank Rouge: https://otakumode.com/shop/brand/ankrouge

Swankiss: https://otakumode.com/shop/label/Swankiss

Bobon21: https://otakumode.com/shop/brand/bobon21

Please note that Bobon21 and Candy Rain are taobao brands. That means they are authentic pieces sold by real shops through taobao. Taobao has a bunch of brands, however if you search for any non- taobao brands (such as Liz Lisa) you may notice they are very cheap. This is because they are most likely replicas. A lot of people buy replicas from taobao because they are usually half or a third of the price. It is up to you to decide whether or not you mind having replicas in your closet, but note that the quality may be lacking in comparison to the original item.
There are many sites out there that buy wholesale from taobao and sell those pieces as "authentic" for full price. That is another reason why you should stick to the links above.

Now, if you're like me and don't mind buying used here are some options.

Aps:
Depop
Mercari
Poshmark - *can be accessed through web also*
Vinted

Websites/Auction sites:
Ebay
Storenvy
Gyaru International sales
Liz Lisa sales community on Facebook
Livejournal Gyaru sales
Lacemarket
Yahoo! Auctions
Mbok
Fril

*** you will need a shopping service for  Yahoo! Auctions, Mbok, and Fril, as they are Japanese auction sites ***

These places will allow you to buy from other users. Although most of these apps/sites are safe and reliable, please remember that you are dealing with real people and not a business. You may come across a bad seller every now and then.
Keep in mind, always always ALWAYS ask the seller first about the piece you are buying unless you are ok with the piece as is. Often times if a piece is really cheap (say $20 or under) I will not even bother to ask about authenticity. Something that cheap may be sold by the time the seller replies. If the description seems shady or the seller doesnt show the tag in any of their photos or provide a description, its usually best to trust your gut feeling.
When buying really low priced items I realize I am taking the risk and I wont be upset if it turns out to be a replica. In fact buying second hand is always a risk. The only way to guarantee something as completely authentic is by buying directly from the source. If you are completely against replicas, buying secondhand is not for you.

In the future I will go over how to shop secondhand safely and share some of my experiences but for now I hope this gives you a good idea of how to start your himekaji collection.


*** UPDATE: I recently made a purchase from Mbok through Chibi Tenshi's shopping service! I will make a post about my first shopping service experience soon!

🌸 Welcome to my blog 🌸

Hello!
I want to take the time to introduce myself a little bit!
My name is Amanda Marie. Im just a normal college student with a huuuuge interest in jfashion, more specifically, himekaji. If you don't know what that is, just imagine what a princess would wear if she were to tone it down a bit. Florals, polka dots, tons of lace-- anything sweet and stylish but not over the top.
I didn't really get into himekaji until 2015. For months I wanted to buy my "dream" Liz Lisa skirt, but I couldn't reason spending $50 on something I had no idea how to wear (or even if I would fit it)
After checking around many apps, I found someone selling the pink version -new with tags-  for only $20! There was no second guessing that buy. I was so excited when it arrived in the mail 3 days later that I found myself wearing it around the house all the time.
Eventually, I began stalking the Liz Lisa tag, I found some amazing deals and just had to buy a few more pieces.
This was the beginning of my journey into my princess styled life.

There are a lot of other brands besides Liz Lisa, but I think Liz Lisa has so many great "staple pieces" that I cannot ignore how amazing their clothes are.
Liz Lisa is a high quality brand and I think it's so lovable because of versatility. Not only is each collection unique, it is also great for most sizes! (If you are a size medium or smaller, you wont have too much of a problem fitting most pieces)
I myself am not super tiny, but I have not come across any Liz Lisa items I can't fit into. Each and every Liz Lisa piece I own has a special place in my heart.

Not only do i own Liz Lisa, but also Ank Rouge, Tralala, and Penderie. I have a few Candy Rain and Bobon21 pieces as well (these are taobao brands)
If you're unfamiliar with any of these, be sure to check them out.
Mixing and matching brands can make beautiful and unique outfits!

I'm hoping to expand my wardrobe since I only own about 30 himekaji pieces, all of which have been bought secondhand, used, loved, still beautiful and well under retail price.
If you're new to himekaji I would love to share my experiences with you and if you have a closet full already, maybe we could learn a few things from each other~  I'm hoping my blog will be a great place for all himekaji admirers and will help the community grow!